Lustenberger takes NorAm GS on home hill; Gini earns slalom victory{mosimage}Panorama, B.C. The second-to-last day of the CIBC Coupe NorAm Cup Finals saw four Canadians on the podium. Christina Lustenberger, skiing on her home hill at Panorama, won the gold in the women’s giant slalom by a second.

After a strong first run left her with a comfortable lead, Lustenberger took the win in 1:56.46, 1.01 ahead of teammate Shona Rubens, with American Kaylin Richardson, winner of the first slalom of the series, rounding out the top three in 1:57.60.

Lustenberger reigns queen of Panorama after competing in her first race in Canada since returning from the Olympics and a World Cup GS in Norway.

“It sure is great to be home where I have so much support from my friends, family, the hill and the town,” said Lustenberger, who is from the Windermere Valley Ski Club and was the last Canadian to qualify to compete in Torino.

“My goal this season has been to stay healthy and motivated, so I am feeling very good as the season draws to an end and am very happy to have skied well today,” added Lustenberger, whose family own Lusti’s Cup coffee shop in Panorama.

Rubens has been having a successful week in Panorama after finishing seventh and fourth in the two slalom competitions.

“After not skiing very well at the World Juniors last week, I didn’t have too many expectations this week but I am very happy with these results,” said Rubens, who congratulated her teammate in the finish after their runs. “I surprised myself a little.”

Richardson was pleased with her second podium finish of NorAm finals. “Finishing fourth after first run, I had some time to make up so I gave it my all and I am perfectly happy with the third-place result,” said Richardson. “I am happy for Lusti to win here at home,” she added.

Women’s giant slalom
NorAm finals
Panorama, British Columbia
March 16, 2006

1. LUSTENBERGER Christina [CAN]0:56.48 0:59.98 1:56.46
2. RUBENS Shona [CAN]0:57.88 0:59.59 1:57.47
3. RICHARDSON Kaylin L [USA]0:58.39 0:59.21 1:57.60
4. MCJAMES Megan [USA]0:57.55 1:00.62 1:58.17
5. ROSS Lauren [USA]0:58.64 0:59.95 1:58.59
6. HITCHCOCK Katharine [USA]0:58.42 1:00.80 1:59.22
7. PREFONTAINE Marie-Pier [CAN]
0:59.22 1:00.16 1:59.38
8. ARCHAMBAULT-LEGER Veronique [CAN]0:58.96 1:00.50 1:59.46
9. MARSHALL Chelsea [USA]0:59.28 1:00.76 2:00.04
10. MENDES Jonna [USA] – SR
0:59.81 1:00.39 2:00.20

Men’s slalom
On the men’s side, Marc Gini from Switzerland stole the men’s slalom victory in one minute, 50.80 seconds, after stepping up from ninth place in the first run. “I gave it full gas and it paid off!” said the 21-year-old who had a 17th-place finish in a World Cup slalom in Japan earlier this month.

Second place went to Banff’s Paul Stutz, who had a previous NorAm win in the January Hunter Mountain slalom.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself this week,” said Stutz, who is currently leading the NorAm slalom standings. “Ski racing is easy, you just need to be the fastest racer getting to the finish line and second run I skied to my ability. I know I can do more of the same tomorrow.”

Patrick Biggs, who lead the pack in the first run, slipped back to third to tie with USA’s Jimmy Cochran with the time of 1:51.32. Biggs, who is just back from Olympic competition and the World Cup circuit, is hoping to lower his World Cup slalom points to ensure a better start position next season.

“I’m disappointed with my second run where I obviously lost a lot of time,” Biggs said. “I need to refocus and find my rhythm for tomorrow.’

Ontario’s Scott Barrett was fourth after the first run, but fell back to 10th in the final run. Fellow racers were cheering on Barrett, who did not finish the giant slalom yesterday after hitting a gate with his face and suffering from face lacerations and several lost teeth.

Calgary’s John Kucera, who won both of the giant slaloms earlier this week, finished eighth.

Women’s giant slalom
NorAm finals
Panorama, British Columbia
March 16, 2006

1. GINI Marc [SUI]0:54.53 0:56.27 1:50.80
2. STUTZ Paul [CAN]0:53.90 0:57.19 1:51.09
3. COCHRAN James [USA]0:54.02 0:57.30 1:51.32
4. BIGGS Patrick [CAN]0:53.41 0:57.91 1:51.32
5. BROWN Roger P [USA]0:53.81 0:57.55 1:51.36
6. NICKERSON Warner C [USA]0:54.29 0:57.13 1:51.42
7. ZAMANSKY Jake [USA]0:54.48 0:56.94 1:51.42
8. KUCERA John [CAN]0:55.13 0:56.66 1:51.79
9. ALBRECHT Kilian [AUT]0:55.29 0:56.69 1:51.98
10. BARRETT Scott [CAN]0:53.96 0:58.02 1:51.98

For complete results from the NorAm series, click here.

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